Brassocattleya Hawaiian Leopard 'Mei-Ling'

[sammywolffox]

Brassocattleya Hawaiian Leopard 'Mei-Ling'.
This is a very reliable bloomer. In looking at images of this orchid on the internet, I notice that images vary greatly in both color and form. Some have flat lips and some tubular. Colors vary from a pale yellow and purple to a bright yellow with red/purple. The first two pictures are of a orchid that is presently blooming. The third picture is a plant that blooms much darker. Both orchids make a nice display.

[fhayes]

Beautiful.

[tucker85]

Very pretty! I agree they are reliable bloomers.

[stateless]

spots and color, love it

[rich63]

Who wouldn't love Mueller's ? Very nice. Have Fun, Rich

[catttan]

I concur with Rich.

[Dorsetman]

A Hawaian Leopard sounds to be an unlikely denizen of the Islands, but never having been there I wouldn't know for sure.
But as to the orchids, it is interesting to hear of so much variation in what ought to be meristem tissue propagations from a single plant. Yes, I know that mutations have occurred ,e.g. in the original Vuyl.Cambria, but that was propagated at the rate of several million plants a year for many years ; not true of any cattleya, I would have thought. Could this all be cultural conditions ? But surely not if all are in one and the same collection ?
Or maybe someone selfed the named clone, and makde the mistake of selling all the progeny under that clone name ( it has been known, although it is quite wrong ).
To my eyes, some of the versions are lovely orchids; but beauty is so subjective. To me the top pic ( as they appear on my browser - probably the same as yours - is a very desirable and unusual flower. The bottom one, is a bit OTT, and without going so far as to say I wouldn't keep it, I think it would go to the first favoured visitor who raved about it.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Beautiful! I love the final photo especially. Great looking BLC Hawaiian Leopard

cheers,
BD

[sammywolffox]

Thanks Geoff,
As always your comments are very perceptive and appreciated. While I certainly own a number of meristem propagated orchids, I try to purchase seed propagated orchids whenever possible. I simply like the surprises that nature provides. I also like to purchase seedlings from new crosses so I can see first blooms. Lately I have noticed a surprising number of orchids sold under the same name that are simply "too" different. I have seen orchids sold under the same name when one had a typical Richard Mueller form and one a Classic Mossiae form. To me this defies logic. My cousin, who lives in Hawaii, assures me that leopards are no great threat but that the true denizen is the invasive Brown snake.
Thanks again